Automatic control for tabulating machines



April 4, 1939. R. B. HERBERT 2,153,187

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR TABULATING MACHINES Filed March 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.!

ATTORNEY April 4, 1939. R. B. HERBERT 2,153,187

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR TABULATING MACHINES I Filed March 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 unknown-N4],- o: 5

Farms ZHHHW 12-6 [I [J [I --u n n u o-a l] l] [1 P9 DUI] [I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Robert B. Herbert, Endicott, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machin cs Corporation,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 29, 1935, Serial No. 13,691

3 Claims.

This invention relates to accounting machines and more particularly to accounting machines of the perforated card controlled type. It is directed to improvements in tabulating machines 5 of the type shown and described in the patent to G. F. Daly and J. E. Dayger, No. 1,954,041, granted April 10, 1934, and the patent to C. D. Lake and G. F. Daly, No. 1,976,617, granted October 9, 1934.

The present invention is a further improvement in such machines with a view to obtaining an increased eiiiciency and utility thereof.

It has for its principal object the elimination of a number of operating cycles of the machine where so-called single card groups are tabulated, that is, groups of cards having but a single record card devoted to a particular classification.

In the statistical work handled by tabulating machines in general, the record cards are arranged in groups, which are separately tabulated and the totals printed on a suitable report sheet. To effect this, the items carried by the individual cards of each group are entered into a single accumulator as the cards are successively analyzed. Upon a change in the group designation, the machine enters upon a total printing and reset cycle, during which the total of the group is read from the accumulator and the accumulator is reset or zeroized. This procedure is followed for every group regardless of the number of cards comprising it, so that where there is a so-called single card group, the single item is transferred from the card to an accumulator and from thence re-transferred to the report sheet, all of which requires one machine cycle for accumulator entry, a second cycle for the total printing operation, and further time is required for effecting resetting.

Where the number of single card groups is comparatively large, it is obvious that the eflicient 40 operation of the machine is considerably lessened due to the duplicate cycles necessary to record single group items. was proposed to eliminate the entry of single card group items and the additional operating cycle necessary to total print the same, by inserting in the groups of'cards what is known as a group signal card. This card is inserted in advance of all so-called multiple card groups and its function is, to call into operation the automatic control mechanism which functions to signal the end of the multiple card group and to initiate a total printing and resetting operation wherein the group total is printed. For certain classes oiwork, the insertion of these group signal cards is not advantageous, especially where the In Patent No. 1,954,041 1t file of cards is later to be used in other operations in which the group signal cards are not required, so that it is necessary to first remove them from the file.

A specific object of the invention, therefore,

is to provide a machine incorporating the advantages obtained in a machine such as disclosed in the patent mentioned without necessitating the use of group signal cards. The invention is realized by providing an extra card analyzing station in advance of the normal analyzing stations by means of which a predetermination can be made of the kind of card group about to be sensed, that is, whether it is a single card group or a multiple card group.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pre-sensing station in existing tabulating machines in which the re-organization of existing arrangements is reduced to a minimum.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following p ticul-ardescription of one form of mechanism embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also constitutes certain new and useful features of construction and combination of parts her inafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram or the electric cir cults of the machine.

I Fig. 2 is a. diagrammatic representation of the card feeding and analyzing devices showing the location of the pre-sensing station.

Fig. 3 is a chart showing the coding arrangement employed in perforating group classification numbers.

Fig. 4 is a chart showing the timing of the electrical contact devices of the machine.

'In Fig. 2 is shown diagrammatically the manner in which cards are advanced from the record magazine past the analyzing instrumentalities. The brushes UB and LB are those usually found in this type of machine. By means of the picker [0 and gearing generally designated ll cards are fed singly past the upper brushes U13 and exactly one machine cycle later past the lower brushes LB. The cards are arranged with the usual index point positions and the timing is such that as any index point position of a record card is at the lower brushes, the same index point position of the next following card will be at the upper brushes.

In advance of the upper brushes U5, is provided, for the purposes of the present invention, a pre-sensing brush station designated PB 10- cated in advance of the brushes UB a distance equal to half the distance between brushes UB and LB so that when the 1" index point position of a record card is at the brushes UB, the "9 index point position of the next following card will be at the brushes PB; when the .0 position is at UB, the 8" position of the next card will be at PB, and so on.

In order to permit comparison of record cards at stations U3 and PB, the fields of the cards in which the to be compared classification data are perforated, are perforated in accordance with a code of the form shown in Fig. 3, wherein a- 9 is represented by a perforation in the "6" and 8" index point positions and also in the 12" and 0" positions; an 8 in the 7? and 8 positions and also in the 11 and 0 positions.

In making use of this coding arrangement, the

classification number relating to a particular card is punched in duplicate in the record card, once in the positions 6" to 9" and again in the positions at the top of the card, 12" to 1". This manner of punching is illustrated in the cards of Fig. 2 where the lowest card is punched to represent 5237, the center card with the number a 5238, and the uppermost card also with the number 5238.

With this arrangement, it will be apparent that as the index point positions "1" to "12 are analyzed at the brushes UB, the positions 9" to 6" are analyzed at the brushes PB and for any particular number, the corresponding code perforation will be simultaneously presented to the brushes U13 and PB. It will also be observed in connection with Fig. 2, that the spacing of the parts is such that the duplicate sets of perforations in a single card are also compared with one another; that is, as the field of perforations at the bottom of the card is passing the brushes UB, the field at the top of the card is passing the brushes PB, the 9 position being analyzed concurrently with the "1", the 8" with the "0", the "7" with the 11", and the 6 with the "12. No actual comparison will be made between the two fields of the same card, however, since current is not supplied to the brushes at such time.

The manner in which the brush stations LB, UB, and PB control the operation of the machine ,will now be explained in connection with the circuit diagram (Fig. 1) wherein the brushes LB, which sense the data to be added and printed, are connected as representatively indicated by a plug connection I2 to the central blade of a pair of contacts I 3a, I 817. These contacts are normallyin the position shown with contacts Ila open and from the open side a plug connection I8 is extended to a plug socket I1, while the closed contact is connected through a plug connection I4 to a plug socket I5. Socket I5 is connected to the printing magnet I 9 through relay contacts 58a while the socket I1 is connected to an adding magnet I8.

The specific mechanism controlled by these magnets does not per se form any part of the present invention and the illustration thereof is not deemed necessary. Reference may be had to Patent No. 1,976,617 for details of construction. Suffice it-to say for the present purposes, that energization of magnet I8 will effect operation of the accumulating mechanism to add the amounts sensed by the brushes LB and the magnets I8 will cuits under control of an emitter 2i through contacts 22a which are closed during total printing operations so that the total of the amounts accumulated may be printed by the magnets l8. These printing, adding and total printing operations of the machine are well known to those familiar with the art and their detailed description is accordingly not given. I

The brushes PB which traverse the coded fields of the cards are connected through plug connections 28 to plug sockets 24 which extend to one coil of a differentially wound relay magnet 25 and the corresponding brush UB is connected by plug connection 28 to a socket 21 extending to the other, oppositely wound coil of the magnet 28. It will thus be apparent that if current flows through corresponding brushes U3 and PB at the same time, the oppositely wound coils will oppose each other and the magnet 25 will have no effect on its normally closed contacts 25a. If, however, the circuit passes through one of the brushes, the relay will become unbalanced and its associated contacts will be opened, thus indicating 9. disagreement in the perforations sensed by the brushes.

The current to brushes PB and UB is controlled through cam contacts L8 and LIO, which, as indicated in Fig. 4, are closed only during the period when the index point positions 1" to 12" are at the upper brushes so that the index point positions 5" to 2" in the coded section of the card are not sensed by the brushes PB which will be traversing the space between cards when these unsensed positions are passing the brushes UB. Current is supplied to the brushes LB for the usual period; that is, while all the index point positions of the card are traversing the brushes. The current is supplied from line 28, through lower card lever contacts 28, impulse distributing contacts 88, card lever relay contacts 8i to the brushes LB, so that as long as cards are passing the brushes, current will be supplied to the contact roller thereof.

The contacts 25a are connected to plug sockets 88, any one of which may be connected through a suitable plug connection 84 to a. socket 85. With this arrangement, any number of the contacts 28a may be grouped in accordance with the number of positions in the coded field being sensed. In Fig. 1, the connection is made from the uppermost socket 88 so that the four contacts 25a are included in a series circuit. When all the contacts 250. are closed, a circuit may be traced from line 28, through wire 86, contacts 25a in series, connection 84, through relay contacts 81a (if these are closed), relay magnet 81, to line 88.

Relay magnet 81 is energized through cam contacts LI I which, according to Fig. 4, are closed for a short period at the beginning of each cycle, so that the circuit extending from line 28, through wire 86, contacts LI I, relay magnet 81, to line 88, will maintain magnet 81 energized for the period indicated on the timing chart and it is the function of contacts 25a and the circuit traced therethrough to maintain relay magnet 81 energized over the period that contacts LI I are open. With relay 81 energized, contacts 81b will also be closed and a circuit may then be completed under control of cam contacts LII near the end of the cycle to energize relay magnet 88, which in turn closes its contacts 89a, 88b, and 880. Contacts .80 provide a holding circuit through cam contacts LI8, which, according to Fig. 4, pick up the circuit established by contacts LI! and hold magnet 88 energized for almost a complete cycle from the time of energization thereof.

. As long as single card groups are t m n 18 through the machine, one or more of the contacts 28a will be opened and the circuit through mag net 81 will not bemaintained but will be broken at some point before contacts Li2 close. Consequently, relay magnet 88 will not be energized.

It only single card groups are presented, the series circuit will be broken each cycle, and the lower brushes LB will remain in connection with the printing magnets i8.

Assuming now that the lower field oi the record card of a multiple card group is about to pass brushes PB and the upper field oi the preceding card of the same groupis about to pass the brushes UB (see Fig. 2). The two fields about to be compared will register agreement and none oi the contacts 28a will open, thus permitting the completion and maintenance of the circuit through magnet 88, traced above.

Closure of contacts 880 will complete. the circuit from line 88, magnet 40, contacts 880, switch 8i, wire 88, to line 28. Magnet 48 closes its contacts 48 to permit completion of a holding circuit for the magnet through contacts P8 which are normally closed and open during the reset cycle.

Near the end of the cycle, as the first card of the multiple card group is about to pass the lower brushes LB, cam contacts Li8 close, establishing a circuit from line 88, relay magnet i8, contacts Li8, contacts 48a, contacts P8, wire 88, to line 28. Magnet i8 closes its contacts i8c to provide a holding circuit traceable from line 88, magnet i8, contacts i8c, contacts 48a and P8, wire 88 to line 28. Thus magnets 40 and i8 once having been energized will remain so until a total taking and reset cycle takes place during which contacts P8 in the holding circuits open. Magnet i8 also closes its contacts i8a and opens its contacts i8b thereby connecting the brushes LB to the adding magnets i8 and disconnecting the brushes from the printing magnets l8 so that'as the first card of the group passes the lower brushes, the amount thereon will be added and not printed. As long as cards of the same group continue to be presented, magnets 81, 88, 40, and i8 continue to be energized and adding without printing will take,

place for each card of the group.

. After magnet i8 is energized, a circuit is completed during the following cycle from line 88, magnets 4i and 58 in parallel, contacts Liil, i8c, 40a, P8 and wire 88, to line 28. Magnet 58 closes contacts We to provide a holding circuit through contacts P8. Magnet 4i corresponds to magnet 11 of Patent No. 1,954,041, and functions to cause the uncoupling of the printing mechanism from the drive of the machine while the amount on the cards of the multiple card group are being added.

Energization of magnet opens its contacts 58a to disconnect printing magnet ill from socket l8 and closes its contacts 80b to connect magnet l8 to another socket lib which is plug con nected to a socket i5c thus conditioning circuit connections through which the total in the accumulator may be printed.

The machine will now continue running until a group change occurs; that is, until a card with a diflerent group number arrives at brushes PB. The circuit which maintains the machine in operation is traceable from line 88, contacts Pi, main clutch magnet 42, relay '48 (whose contacts 48a complete the circuit of motor TM), relay 44,

.contacts 44a, 44b, stop key contacts SP, contacts 48a switch 48, to line 28. This circuit is initially established as follows: on the usual preliminary reset cycle initiated by closure of contacts 8T2, a circuit is completed from line 88, contacts P8,

reset clutch magnet 41, contacts L4, 8T2, and

48b, switch 48, to line 28. The machine per-' forms a resetting cycle of operations to clear the contacts SP, P2, the well known automatic start switch, relay magnet 44, contacts of magnet, magnet 42, contacts Pi, to line 88., This is the well known automatic restart circuit which will permit establishment of the main operating circuit traced above.

A pair of normally closed contacts i3d short cir-- cuit contacts L8 and these remain closed until a multiple card group is sensed. They then open but since at such time magnet 89 is also energized as explained, a pair of contacts 8% closed thereby, establish a iurthershort circuit. This circuit follows from line 28,'wire 88, contacts 88b, magnet 45, contacts 480, magnet 48, to line 38.

When the last-card of the multiple card group is at the upper brushes 0B and a card with a diflerent group number is at the brushes PB, relay magnet 88 becomes deenergized near the end of the cycle after contacts L8 have closed. The machine continues to run until the last card has passed the lower brushes LB when contacts L8 open, deenergizing magnets 45 and 48. It will be noted as pointed out above that magnets 40 and I8 remain energized until the total taking cycle takes place and contacts i8d are consequently open when contacts L8 open to deenergize the magnets 48 and 48. Consequent opening of contacts 45a breaks the main motor clutch circuit and contacts 45b establish the automatic reset circuittraceable from line 28, switch 48, contacts 4517, switch S2, contacts L8, relay magnet 80, contacts P8, to line 88. Magnet 80 closes its contacts 880 setting up a circuit from line 28, gzsmtacts 88a, L4, magnet 41, contacts P3 to line The machine thereupon enters the usual total printing cycle during which the total of the group added is printed and the accumulator zeroized. During this cycle closure of contacts P6 again energizes relays 48 and 45 to reestablish the main drive circuit and the machine will resume printing or adding accordingly as the next group is a single card group or a multiple card group.

It the next following group is a single card group, lack of comparison between it and the next following card will have been detected as the last card of the foregoing multiple card group passed the lower brushes LB. During the total taking cycle just explained, therefore, relays 8! and 89 will remain deenergized and relay 48 will become deenergized upon opening of contacts P8 near the end of the reset cycle. The circuit for magnet 18 is thus also broken so that upon resumption of card analyzing the single card group which is about to pass the lower brushes is directly listed.

If the group following the total taking cycle is a multiple card group, the first two cards thereof will have been compared and found in agreement as the last card oi! the foregoing group passed the lower brushes LB. Magnets 31 and.

39 would therefore have been energized and the latter held energized throughout the total taking cycle. Upon opening of contacts P8 themagnet I: will not become deenergized since a circuit path is available through the now closed contacts which determines the type of operation which is to follow after the completion of the total taking operations. I

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a machine of the class described, three sensing stations, means for feeding cards past said stations in succession, means controlled by the first two stations for determining whether the cards fed are of a single-card orv multiple-card group, adding and listing control mechanism and .2. In a machine of the class described, threesensing stations, means for feeding cards past said.,,stations in succession, means Jointly controlled by the first two stations for determining whether the cards fed are of a single-card or multiple-card group, recording mechanism, and means controlled by said determining means for causing the third station to control said recording mechanism in response to cards of only one of said types of card groups.

3. In a machine controlled by. record cards arranged in single-card and multiple-card groups, three sensing stations, means for feeding cards past said stations, in succession, printing control means, adding control means, means Jointly con-. trolled by a pair of said stations for detecting the presence of multiplevcard groups, means normally connecting said printing control means with the third of said stations, and means controlled by said detecting means for connecting said adding control means with said last named sensing station during the sensing of multiplecard groups and disconnecting the printing control means therefrom.

ROBERT B. HERBERT. 

